valides

Valides is the plural form of the French word valide, which can function as both an adjective and a noun, with several distinct uses.

As an adjective, valide means valid, legitimate, or well-founded. It is used to describe things that meet established criteria, such as a document, a claim, or a method being considered valid. In this sense, the term is common in administrative, legal, and everyday language. As a noun, valide historically referred to a person who is able-bodied. In contemporary usage, this noun sense is rare and often replaced by phrases like “une personne valide,” with "valide" functioning as an adjective. The plural form "valides" can refer to multiple able-bodied individuals, but contexts typically require more explicit wording.

In Ottoman history, the word Valide appears in the title Valide Sultan, which translates to Queen Mother. This title denotes the mother of the reigning sultan, who often wielded substantial political influence at court. The phrase Valide Sultan is the standard designation in English and other languages; the plural is typically Valide Sultans, not valides, reflecting a distinct vocabulary rather than the French plural.

Etymology traces valide to Latin validus, passing through Old French to modern French, where it developed senses related to strength, legality, and correctness. The English and cross-language usage retain the core idea of validity, though the specific noun senses (able-bodied person) and Ottoman title are separate historical paths.